sai_g's reviews
152 reviews
Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Started this book as soon as I put it's former one down.
"Grief and love were one and the same. Grief was the shadow love left when it was gone"
It is a good sequel, a good ending- enough loose ends to fuel upcoming books but still climatic in its own way.
BUT,
As is fashion in Leigh Bardugo's second books of a duology, it is comparatively sadder(felt unnecessary though).
In the SoC duology, it felt like Leigh was so sure of what she was writing. Every chapter was perfectly placed, not even a single sentence was wasted and every single POV was important and interesting to read(including Joost). There was also only the EXACT amount of plot. But this duology is all over the place. The ending felt so out of character it was honestly saddening. I was not expecting an exact replica of the SoC duology, I wanted to love this duology in its own way. But it had SO MANY ways. There was just too much. The ending was not what I had in mind for Ravka or the characters, but it all ties up neatly. I cannot lie and say i liked how things ended especially for Nikolai and Nina. It was not true to their characters.
This duology still had some good characteristics that made me read till the end:
The romance is so slow burn that it almost doesn't exist. But still one of my favorite couples. This goes to show that the characters don't have to be smooching each other's faces off for them to be romantic.
One could only fall more in love with Nikolai's character. I love him, I love being in his head. He has turned out to be my favorite(or at least one of my favorites) character in all of the Grishaverse. The name Golden King truly couldn't suit him more.
Overall, the duology is not good but it is a good read if you are missing the Grishaverse (like I was).
"Grief and love were one and the same. Grief was the shadow love left when it was gone"
It is a good sequel, a good ending- enough loose ends to fuel upcoming books but still climatic in its own way.
BUT,
As is fashion in Leigh Bardugo's second books of a duology, it is comparatively sadder(felt unnecessary though).
In the SoC duology, it felt like Leigh was so sure of what she was writing. Every chapter was perfectly placed, not even a single sentence was wasted and every single POV was important and interesting to read(including Joost). There was also only the EXACT amount of plot. But this duology is all over the place. The ending felt so out of character it was honestly saddening. I was not expecting an exact replica of the SoC duology, I wanted to love this duology in its own way. But it had SO MANY ways. There was just too much. The ending was not what I had in mind for Ravka or the characters, but it all ties up neatly. I cannot lie and say i liked how things ended especially for Nikolai and Nina. It was not true to their characters.
This duology still had some good characteristics that made me read till the end:
The romance is so slow burn that it almost doesn't exist. But still one of my favorite couples. This goes to show that the characters don't have to be smooching each other's faces off for them to be romantic.
One could only fall more in love with Nikolai's character. I love him, I love being in his head. He has turned out to be my favorite(or at least one of my favorites) character in all of the Grishaverse. The name Golden King truly couldn't suit him more.
Overall, the duology is not good but it is a good read if you are missing the Grishaverse (like I was).
King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It had been so long since i read Shadow and Bone trilogy(i recently reread the Six of Crow duology though). So i kinda didn't remember much other than basic Grishaverse details, the ending and such things. I distinctly remember liking Sturmhond the Privateer.
As for King of Scars, i enjoyed it. Nikolai is a very lovable character, as a king and also as a person. But I have to admit, the pacing was difficult to get interested in after reading SoC duology. But once I got used to it, I had fun.
I enjoyed everyone's POVs. Isaak's was such a refreshing POV to read amidst the 'important people' POVs. (I really wanted to read what Nikolai and Isaak would've talked once Nikolai returned. But alas!). My heart tightened everytime Nina mentioned Matthias(Trassel my boy, I missed you. Hope you are safe and happy). I remembered nothing about Zoya from the Shadow and Bone trilogy, but i enjoyed her POVs too.
BUT, the plot was..... Well, it was better than meh but i feel like we have gone nowhere. All that happened for only this to happen? Hope the second book satisfies me.
Overall, I liked the book, loved Nikolai and Isaak(and Trassel). The plot could've been better but I trust Leigh Bardugo and hope she has good things in store for the second book.
As for King of Scars, i enjoyed it. Nikolai is a very lovable character, as a king and also as a person. But I have to admit, the pacing was difficult to get interested in after reading SoC duology. But once I got used to it, I had fun.
I enjoyed everyone's POVs. Isaak's was such a refreshing POV to read amidst the 'important people' POVs. (I really wanted to read what Nikolai and Isaak would've talked once Nikolai returned. But alas!). My heart tightened everytime Nina mentioned Matthias(Trassel my boy, I missed you. Hope you are safe and happy). I remembered nothing about Zoya from the Shadow and Bone trilogy, but i enjoyed her POVs too.
BUT, the plot was..... Well, it was better than meh but i feel like we have gone nowhere. All that happened for only this to happen? Hope the second book satisfies me.
Overall, I liked the book, loved Nikolai and Isaak(and Trassel). The plot could've been better but I trust Leigh Bardugo and hope she has good things in store for the second book.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"If you Come at four o'clock in the afternoon, then by three o'clock I shall begin to be happy"
I honestly shed a tear because of this line.
A beautiful book. Regret reading it this late in my life.
I honestly shed a tear because of this line.
A beautiful book. Regret reading it this late in my life.
The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury
adventurous
dark
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had a good time. It's worth a read.
An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Hmm🤔
The writing is so weird. It did not give me space to feel anything about what was happening or the characters. Before I could form a thought of my own on what was happening, it was over. Moved into the next scene. Whoosh! I think I now learnt the difference between "fast paced" and "just fast" writing.
Though i always appreciate a standalone fantasy, when you have this much about to happen in a story, you dont put all of it in one book. With the number of characters and the well thought premise(mind you, well thought. Not well written), it would have been better if the characters were given more time with the reader. Only then will the events mean something to me. It is a first for me to care this less about the characters.
I gotta admit the strong female main character was a bit likable (just a bit).
Overall, the book felt like an old action movie of sorts with no personality whatsoever and the dialogue felt like the conversations in teen-me's head imagining myself as a cool character.
The writing is so weird. It did not give me space to feel anything about what was happening or the characters. Before I could form a thought of my own on what was happening, it was over. Moved into the next scene. Whoosh! I think I now learnt the difference between "fast paced" and "just fast" writing.
Though i always appreciate a standalone fantasy, when you have this much about to happen in a story, you dont put all of it in one book. With the number of characters and the well thought premise(mind you, well thought. Not well written), it would have been better if the characters were given more time with the reader. Only then will the events mean something to me. It is a first for me to care this less about the characters.
I gotta admit the strong female main character was a bit likable (just a bit).
Overall, the book felt like an old action movie of sorts with no personality whatsoever and the dialogue felt like the conversations in teen-me's head imagining myself as a cool character.
Ella Minnow Pea: A Novel in Letters by Mark Dunn
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Described as a "progressively lipogrammatic epistolary fable", it is that and so much more. As u would have gathered from the summary, it is a story in the form of letters where people are prohibited from using particular alphabets gradually. As the number of prohibited alphabets increase, the letters become too funny to comprehend, while also showing the gradual restlessness of the people writing the letters. I kept re-reading to check if the letters really did not have those particular alphabets. And sometimes i missed that they indeed use the prohibited alphabets. Then the story would say they were caught and i would reread to see where they slipped.
It is a funny, witty and a good time. With a touch of dystopian, this short and fast paced book is a perfect read.
PS: I am a sucker for love letters. Though rare and scattered in this book, it was heart warming to read.
It is a funny, witty and a good time. With a touch of dystopian, this short and fast paced book is a perfect read.
PS: I am a sucker for love letters. Though rare and scattered in this book, it was heart warming to read.